Mike Weatherley MP – News Update

It has been a busy start to 2012, but I have most certainly hit the ground running. Many of you have been asking for extra detail on what I have been up to in Parliament and in Hove and Portlsade, so please find below a highlight of what I’ve been getting up to over Christmas.

Tuesday: Government Policy is Boosting Tourism, says Mike

Mike has praised the Government for helping the tourism industry in Brighton & Hove. Since coming to power, the Government has begun a process of actions that will help boost the tourism industry across the country. Primarily, the Government is committed to abolishing regulations and red tape. Measures include tax breaks for holiday lets; £150m to market Great Britain abroad; and a new online visa application system for visitors, all of which is underpinned by the Governments new tourism strategy. One measure that helps Brighton & Hove specifically is to make it easier for live entertainment to flourish. With tourism being so vital to our local economy, this is great news for the city. For more, click here.

Wednesday: Shelve Green Hawtree’s Library Cut Plans, says Mike

Mike has called on Green Cllr Christopher Hawtree to shelve his plans to cut Brighton & Hove Library services. Green Cllr Christopher Hawtree, a former library campaigner who fought library cuts in light of a funding review, has performed a spectacular u-turn and is now cutting library services in the midst of a funding review. Cllr Hawtree, the Dr Beeching of Brighton & Hove libraries, is the Green’s in-house library expert but is supporting the Green administration’s plans to cut library services. Mike is calling on Cllr Hawtree to turn a new page and come out against these harmful cuts. For more, click here.

Thursday: Move to Freeze Music Licensing Costs for Small Businesses Welcomed by Mike

Mike has welcomed a set of initiatives outlined by PPL to address concerns about their licensing for public performance customers. A number of concerns were raised by PPL licensees over rate hikes that could potentially force venues – which are facing increased costs – to close. In response to the concerns, PPL has started a detailed dialogue, among other measures, with the main trade bodies for the pub, hospitality and nightclub sectors, which are all vital to the Brighton & Hove economy. For more, click here.

Friday: Government Cybercrime Responses a Step in the Right Direction, says Mike

Mike has hailed the first of the Government’s responses to his Parliamentary Questions on Cybercrime as a step in the right direction. Mike tabled a serious of Parliamentary Questions following concerns from business owners that the Government is not doing enough to assist those who have been – and those who could be – affected by cyber crime. Mike also tabled Early Day Motion 2425 in order to gain support among fellow MPs. For more, click here.

To all those celebrating, we'd like to wish you a happy Chinese New Year. Here's to a great year - yesterday

The Federation of Brighton Pavilion and Hove & Portslade Conservatives represent the Conservative Party in the Brighton Pavilion and Hove & Portslade Constituencies, which stretch from the Pier to the Portslade/Fishersgate boundary and from the sea to the South Downs.